24

Jun

How Long Does It Take To Install Kitchen Countertops

When installing quartz kitchen countertops or any other kitchen countertops, the time it takes to install them is vital, as sometimes you might be having guests over, and you want to complete the installation before they arrive.

Wondering how long does it take to install kitchen countertops? Well, the time varies depending on the type of countertops you are looking to install.

Laminate countertops

They have the fastest turnaround times, so if you are looking for fast-to-install countertops, these are the best to go for. You will even install them faster if you go with off-the-rack countertops often found in home improvement stores.

You should note that while the off-the-rack countertops are easy to install, they often aren’t as beautiful as the custom laminate countertops, so you should be ready to make the compromise.

If you want that perfect look, install custom laminate countertops, and these take a long time as the contractor will have to visit your home and demonstrate the various laminate countertops they have in stock.

After you have selected your preferred pieces, the contractor will then take a few weeks or even months to make the countertops. Once the countertops are ready, the contractor will schedule a time to remove the old countertops and install the new ones.

Installing the new custom laminate countertops takes about a few days to a week, depending on the size of your kitchen and the contractor’s experience.

Granite and marble countertops

If you ask any homeowner, the type of countertops they are looking to install, they will tell you granite or marble. And there is a good reason for it: granite and marble countertops are tough and give your kitchen an elegant look.

The time it takes to install these countertops is similar to the other countertops, but with these countertops, instead of the contractor coming to your home, you have to visit the contractor’s showroom to see the various countertops available.

When you are in these stores, don’t simply pick the slab that sticks out the most for you. Remember, your kitchen size, the lighting in your kitchen, cabinet design, and color, will heavily impact how the slab looks in your kitchen, so always take a sample with you in your home and see how it looks there.

Only buy a slab if it looks good in your kitchen.

After you have settled on a given countertop slab, the contractor will find similar slabs as your chosen slab and begin preparing them for installation. This process often takes 1-3 months to complete, depending on the availability of the chosen slabs and the size of your kitchen.

Wood, glass, stainless steel, and engineered stone countertops

These take the same time as laminate countertops to install, and you have to follow the same installation process. The countertop contractor comes to your home with countertop samples, and it’s up to you to choose the ones you like.

You should then wait for the contractor to make the countertops, return to your home, remove the old countertops, and replace them with the new ones.

In most cases, from the time you begin looking at the countertop materials to the time you install them, it takes about 4 months.

Concrete countertops

You can go about the installation in two ways: have the countertops made offsite or have the concrete formed and poured on-site.

The contractor will visit your home and measure the size of your countertop surface so that he can make a countertop of the right size. It often takes longer to have the countertop made on site, as the contractor has to bring everything on the site.

Tile countertops

Unlike marble and granite countertops Rockville that come in large slabs, these countertops are usually small tiles (often 4” X 4”), so as you can expect, they take a long time to install.

You have to follow the same process where the contractor comes to your home and shows you their samples. After settling on the tiles, they make them, then come to your home and install them.

Unlike other countertops that you can begin using immediately after installation, wait for at least a week for the tiles to completely stick to the counter surfaces before using them.

21

May

Replacing Kitchen Countertops On A Budget? 7 Countertop Options To Choose From

If your countertops are damaged, worn out, or you want to revamp your kitchen or bathroom, you should contact countertop replacement services providers to replace the countertops.

If you have a large budget for the work, you do not worry as you can use any material you want, but you can only go with cheap materials if you are working on a tight budget.

Thinking about replacing kitchen countertops on a budget? There are several countertop materials you can go with. The most common ones being:

Laminate

Although laminate countertops were popular a few decades ago, you can still install them in your home at an affordable price. The beauty of modern laminates is that you can find countertops that resemble almost anything. Thanks to advances in technology, you can find laminate countertops mimicking stone, wood, and other materials.

The main flaw with laminate is it tends to easily scratch, so you need to be cautious when preparing your meals or cleaning so you don’t cause substantial damage. Thankfully, you can reduce the chances of scratching by sealing the countertops. When doing it, ensure that you use sealant materials specifically designed for laminate countertops.

Cultured marble

This is faux marble that resembles real marble but comes at a much lower price. The countertops are made from a mixture of polyester resin and pigments, marble dust and fillers.

These surfaces replicate the marble appearance, but they are more stain-resistant than the real marble, making them easier to maintain.

Paint

Many people use paint to revamp their walls, but did you know you can also transform your counters using it? The cool thing is you can easily paint the surfaces by yourself without requiring the services or contractor.

All you need to do is to find a color that will give your surfaces a brand new look you are looking for. You can paint any counter surface, so whether you want to transform tile, laminate, solid surface or any other surface, you can definitely use paint.

Bamboo

Bamboo isn’t the most popular countertop material, but it can give your surfaces a unique natural look when properly done.

Bamboo surfaces are known to be stylish, tough, and eco friendly. The only flaw with them is they require significant levels of maintenance. For example, you need to paint them or seal them, so they aren’t damaged by water.

Tiles

Are you looking for durable countertops, but you are operating on a tight budget? These are the countertops to go for. Besides being tough, the countertops are colorful, so they will significantly transform your surfaces with their unique colors.

To make the countertops more appealing, use them in conjunction with plainer, more affordable styles.

Wood

Wood or butcher block counters add warmth to your surfaces and give them a unique natural look. The beauty of wood is it’s cheaper than stone countertops, so you will save a significant amount of money by installing them.

Bamboo and maples are two of the most popular wooden countertop materials, but you can install any other wooden countertops of your choice. When you install them, you should note that the countertops require regular oiling to prevent them from wood-boring insects. You may also have to seal the surfaces to prevent them from water damage.

Stainless steel

Although a good quality stainless steel countertop isn’t cheap, a properly constructed custom made steel countertop can double as a kitchen island, meaning you don’t need to build a kitchen island, and as you can imagine, this saves you a lot of money.

The cool thing is many freestanding stainless steel counters provide plenty of storage space beneath, so you don’t need to construct storage cabinets for your produce.

Recycled glass

This is a new entrant in the market and has quickly risen in popularity. Recycled glass surfaces are made by mixing pieces of recycled glass with cement and other binders. At first look, the countertops are beautiful and easy to maintain, but this isn’t the case.

You need to be ultra-cautious when preparing your meals or placing hard objects on the countertops as they can easily chip or break. So like granite countertops Rockville and other countertop materials, you need to be careful, so you don’t damage them.

14

May

4 Disadvantages of Granite Countertops

Although granite counters are one of the most popular countertop materials in the market, they aren’t perfect. Like other materials, they come with their fair share of negatives that you should be aware of if installing them for the first time. To help you out, here are 4 disadvantages of granite countertops and how to go around them:

They are prone to heat damage.

Although the countertops are tough and heat resistant, they aren’t heatproof. While you might get away with placing hot pots and pans on them a few times, repeatedly doing so increases the chances of leaving an ugly scar on the countertops, and you are forced to replace them.

It’s true the countertops are prone to heat damage, but you can prevent it from coming about. One way to do so is to never place hot pots or pans directly on them. When cooking, always have a trivet or hot pad in the kitchen.

If you don’t have the protective devices in place, don’t remove the hot pot from the stove. Let it cool and only place it on the countertops when it has completely cooled.

They are highly susceptible to staining.

Granite is porous in nature. This means that when a liquid or any substance spills on the countertops, it quickly moves to the stone’s inner layers and stains it.

While this is the case, it doesn’t mean that you should avoid installing the countertops simply because they will stain. You can prevent the staining from occurring in the first place.

One way to do it is to seal the countertops. At the time of installation, ask the contractors to seal the surfaces. You also should seal them at least once a year to maintain the protective barrier.

The purpose of sealing the countertops is to reduce the surface’s porosity, so the liquids don’t absorb too quickly.

Although the liquids won’t absorb quickly when you seal granite countertops, it doesn’t mean that you should start spilling the liquids haphazardly on the countertops. Remember, even if the countertops are sealed, the liquids can still seep through and stain the surfaces, so keep any liquids off the countertops.

When a spill happens, move fast and remove it before it soaks into the deeper layers.

The granite surfaces tend to harbor bacteria.

The granite pores that allow water to seep through also harbor bacteria. If you haven’t sealed the countertops, wiping a cleaning towel across the unsealed surface pushes the food, liquid and bacteria in the pores where they grow and develop, and they can be harmful to your health.

For example, if you cut meat or vegetables directly on the countertops, the bacteria will get into your food leading to food poisoning upon eating the food.

One way to reduce the bacteria population is to seal the countertops. You also should disinfect the surfaces at least once a week.

Granite countertops are heavy.

Even when you are in the stores, on picking the countertops, you will notice that they are heavy. While the heavy nature of the countertops might mean the countertops are tough and indestructible, it brings about an installation challenge.

If you had not thought it through when building the cabinets, placing the heavy granite slabs on the weak cabinets will bring about a plethora of problems, including binding, cracking or even the ultimate breaking of the cabinets.

The weighty nature of the slabs also means that the granite contractor you hire can’t do the work by himself or with his assistant—he has to hire many people to help with the installation, which increases the installation cost.

To counter this, hire the right contractor from the word go. The experienced contractor will help you install the right cabinets that will carry the countertop’s weight.

Installing the countertops isn’t cheap, but you don’t have to redo it when you hire an experienced contractor that knows what they are doing.

If you are looking to install granite on your surfaces, don’t be in a hurry to settle on the first granite installer you come across. Take your time and interview several granite countertop installers Rockville, then settle on the most qualified.

Remember, installing the countertops is expensive, and you don’t want someone that will install the countertops, then you will have to redo them.

30

Apr

What Color Granite Is Cheapest?

Granite countertops don’t come cheap, and one of the factors that affect the price of the countertops is the countertop’s color. Common colors such as white and black are cheaper compared to rare colors such as green and red. This means that if you are looking to save money, you should go for common countertop colors.

Are you wondering what color granite is cheapest? Tan and black granite are the cheapest, so if you are strapped for money, these are the ones to go for. While this is the case, there are plenty of other cheaper alternatives, including white granite, that you can buy if tan or black isn’t your color. These cheaper alternatives include:

Dallas white

Although it’s known as Dallas, this isn’t where it’s mined. The countertop is quarried in Aguia Branca, Brazil. The countertop is characterized by low water absorption and low porosity, making it an excellent choice for kitchens and bathrooms.

The countertop has a white background and dark crystals scattered throughout, giving your home an interesting appeal.

Although, most slabs have crystals, it’s not uncommon to find some slabs with brown or golden cream veins that make the countertop resemble an abstract art painting.

Due to the tight grain structure of the countertop, you don’t have to install a face resin on the countertops. The lack of resin means that you can place a hot pot on the countertop without worrying about damaging the countertops.

Although, the countertops are tough to take the heat, you should note that continued exposure to heat increases the chances of damaging them. To protect the countertops from damage, use a trivet or a hot pad every time you place a hot object on the countertops.

To get the most from the countertop, ensure that it’s installed by a professional. The Dallas white color pairs excellently with white cabinetry, but if you don’t want your entire bathroom or kitchen to be white, pair it with dark wood cabinetry such as dark walnut.

Azul Platino

Azul Platino has been around for hundreds of years, and it features an off-white background with small bluish-gray specks. It’s also common for the slabs to have black spots or even black or white veining.

Most of the Azul Platino slabs are large, making them ideal choices for kitchen islands and other areas where you need to install large-sized slabs.

Uba Tuba

It’s named after the place it’s mined. Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. Besides being affordable, the countertop is also beautiful, and when you properly install and take good care of it, it will last for a long time. The countertop features a dark green background with brown, green, and gold flecks scattered across the granite slab.

In some cases, the slab has small veins that can be white, gold, or turquoise.

When you install the countertops, pair them with dark cabinetry to bring out exciting features. You can also pair them with white cabinetry for an elegant contemporary look.

New Caledonia

This is another countertop quarried in Brazil. Although it’s natural, it’s unique in that it has a uniform look such that two slabs look almost similar.

The natural stone countertop features a white background with gray or brown speckles that run uniformly throughout the slab giving it an interesting look. The heavy grain pattern makes it easy to hide the stains, so you don’t have to worry when liquids and foods spill on the countertops.

Since the countertop has a uniform look, it perfectly fits both traditional and contemporary kitchens and bathrooms. To bring out the brown and bedrock minerals, pair them with dark wood-stained cabinetry. On the other hand, if you want to bring out the charcoal flecking, pair it with light cabinetry.

Valle Nevado

It’s one of the most popular, affordable countertop granite colors, and it’s loved for its ability to coordinate with many design styles. The countertop features a tight grain structure that minimizes the need to apply a resin to it.

Due to its versatility, you can effectively pair it with both black or white cabinetry. When you pair it with white cabinetry, you bring out the tiny back crystals. On the other hand, when you pair it with black cabinetry, you bring out the pale gray tone of the countertop.

The key to getting the most from it is to work with experienced granite installers Rockville that know what they are doing.

21

Apr

Can You Put A Hot Pan On Quartz?

Quartz countertops are manmade and tough and due to their tough nature, you will hear some homeowners asking, can you put a hot pan on quartz?

While the countertops are tough and heat-resistant, they aren’t heatproof. This means that the counters can be resistant to the heat to a certain degree, after which they can’t deal with the high temperatures. This means you might get away with placing the hot pan on the countertops once or twice but continuing with it will cause serious damage to the surfaces.

To answer your question about whether you can put hot pans on quartz, no, you shouldn’t.

What other things shouldn’t you do to the countertops?

Besides exposing the countertops to a lot of heat, there are plenty of other things you shouldn’t do to your countertops. Some of these things include:

Don’t ignore spills

Quartz is tough, but you shouldn’t test it. When spills happen, move with haste and remove them before they get worse. You should especially move with haste and remove them if they are juice, wine, vinegar, juice, or tea.

The reason you should remove these liquids is because they can be corrosive or acidic to the countertops and damage them. You don’t want this, do you?

Don’t cut directly on the countertops.

Quartz is one of the toughest materials in the market, as it’s fortified with manmade polymers that make it even tougher. While the countertop is tough, don’t cut directly on it. This is because the sharp knives will scratch the surface, giving them an ugly look.

Whenever you are looking to cut anything in the kitchen, use a cutting board. Don’t cut directly on the countertop, as you will damage it.

Don’t use harsh cleaning products.

You may want your countertops to look their best, so you might be tempted to use the toughest cleaning products such as bleach and others, but don’t go that route. While bleach and other high pH cleaners are highly effective, you shouldn’t use them as they can damage your surface.

You should note that regardless of how dirty the countertops look, you don’t need tough cleaning products to keep them clean. Mild soap and water are enough to give the surfaces a clean look and also remove bacteria and minor stains that might be forming.

Don’t slide things on the countertops.

Quart counters can stand a lot of abuse, but you can protect them from scratches and other forms of damage by being cautious about how you handle them. As a rule of thumb, don’t move ceramic, metal dishes, or utensils along the countertop surfaces.

You also shouldn’t slide knives and other potentially abrasive materials across the countertops, as they can leave black marks that might be difficult or impossible to remove.

Don’t use permanent markers on the countertops.

It’s tempting to let the kids do their homework on the kitchen island as you are making dinner. While you love your kids and want to spend as much time with them as possible, don’t let them do their school projects on the counters, especially if the projects involve permanent markers.

This is because it’s only a matter of time before the kids start doodling on the countertops with the permanent markers. And as you can guess, the permanent markers will adhere to the countertop surface and become hard to remove. In fact, you can’t remove the marker with anything else other than a harsh chemical that has high chances of causing damage.

If you have to have the kids in the kitchen, ensure they are using water-based markers. If the kids play with sharp objects, protect the surfaces, so they don’t damage the counters.

In conclusion,

These are some of the things you shouldn’t do to your quartz kitchen countertops Potomac. For the countertops to retain their look for a long time, you need to show love to them. Remember, you installed them for their strong, gorgeous, and easy-to-maintain look, so you need to take good care of them.

As a rule of thumb, avoid all of the above and clean the counters regularly. You also should register the countertops as soon as you buy them to activate the warranty.

25

Mar

Is Granite Good for Kitchen Countertops?

Granite countertops are one of the most popular countertop materials, and every homeowner wants to install them. The countertops are loved for their beauty and the fact that they give a kitchen a premium look. While this is the case, the big question is, is granite good for kitchen countertops?

Yes, granite is an excellent material for your kitchen countertops. Here are some of the reasons why:

It’s heat resistant

Granite counters won’t melt or blister when exposed to heat. This means you can take a hot pan and place it directly on the countertops without worrying about the surfaces getting damaged. While this is the case, you should note that regular countertop exposure to extreme temperatures can damage them.

This is because, while the countertop is heat resistant, it’s not heatproof.  To protect your surfaces, always have a trivet in place so that when you remove a hot pot or pan from the fire, you don’t place it directly on the countertops. Rather, you place it on the trivet.

It’s scratch-resistant

Granite scores a seven on Moh’s scale of hardness. This means the material is tough and able to resist scratches from different materials. Due to its tough nature, many homeowners cut fruits and vegetables on it. While you can do this without any issue, you should limit it. This is because the vegetables and fruits might be having harmful acids that might etch the surfaces.

Other foods such as meat might be harboring bacteria that you transfer to the surfaces when you place them directly on the countertops. When you place other foods on the counters, you transfer these bacteria to the foods. You don’t want this, do you?

Even if the countertops can take the beating, don’t cut the food directly on the countertops. Instead, always have a cutting board in place at all times.

You can easily hide seams.

If you have a large kitchen, you have to use two or more granite slabs. The biggest worry with most homeowners is that the countertops will show seams that give the surfaces an ugly appeal. When you hire the right contractors to install the countertops, you don’t have to worry about this. Most experienced installers mix custom color epoxy to adhere to the seams, which comes in handy at disguising them.

And as a result, you have a smooth, beautiful surface.

You can repair the countertops.

Most countertop materials need to be replaced when they get damaged. This isn’t the case with granite. When you have a crack or chip on your granite, you need to contact the contractor that installed them and explain the issue. In most cases, the contractor will use a color-matched epoxy to fill the void, and when properly done, it’s invisible. In fact, you can’t tell you have a defect there.

If you have a small chip, you can use superglue to seal the chip.

While the countertops are repairable, you should note that it’s your responsibility to protect them from damage. Of major importance, don’t place heavy cast-iron pans directly into your under-mounted sink. This is because the cutout edges are prone to chips that give your surfaces an ugly appeal.

There are plenty of countertop options to choose from

If you ask many homeowners, they will tell you that granite is white, but this isn’t the case at all. Granite comes in a variety of colors and patterns to choose from. And the beauty is that since the stone is natural, every slab is unique so that you can be sure that when you install the countertop, you can’t find anyone else with an exactly similar one.

If you want your kitchen to have an exotic look, you should install exotic granite colors such as red. While the slabs will be slightly more expensive than the other slabs in the market, you will give your guests something to talk about when they visit you.

They are easy to maintain

Granite countertops are one of the easiest materials to maintain. Once you have had them professionally installed by granite installers Rockville, the only thing you need to do is to clean them once a day. You also should make it a habit to clean any spills as soon as they happen. Also, once a year, seal the countertops to keep off stains.

17

Mar

How to Tell the Difference between Marble and Granite

On first look, marble and granite countertops look similar. Both are natural and porous, which can be confusing to many new homeowners. But are the two similar? Absolutely not.

While the two materials are similar in some aspects, they have their differences. If this is the first time buying the countertops, you need to be cautious, so you don’t buy the wrong one. To help you out, here is a guide on how to tell the difference between marble and granite:

Origin

Both marble and granite are natural, meaning they are both acquired through mining and excavation, but they have a few differences.

After being buried for millions of years, granite is a kind of igneous rock. It’s a byproduct of molten magma that has been seasoned down and solidified for decades. Granite forms after going through periodic heating and cooling, and this makes it hard and durable.

Marble goes through the same formation process as granite, but marble doesn’t involve magma heat. A marble is a combination of sedimentary rocks and other natural elements. It results after years of natural meshing of rock and soil. After being exposed to heat and pressure, you have the natural design of the stone.

During its making, plenty of minerals are involved, so marble tends to come in a wide range of colors. This means as a buyer, you have plenty of designs and colors to choose from.

Cost

Cost is often a deal-breaker when you are buying countertops, with marble being more expensive than granite. You should note that the price of the countertops isn’t only the buying cost. You also need to factor in the cost of installation. You can’t install the countertops by yourself, so you will need to hire a professional to help you out.

The installation technicians have different rates depending on their experience level, insurances, and location. It’s up to you to research and find a contractor that will provide you with great service at the least cost.

When you are operating on a tight budget, avoid hiring uptown companies as they will charge you a premium fee for nothing. You should note that the high fees charged by these companies aren’t a reflection of the services they provide, but rather than the fee they have to charge to stay afloat.

Simultaneously, avoid extremely cheap companies as they are most likely inexperienced and will do a shoddy job. Others will damage your countertops, which can lead to an expensive loss.

As mentioned, you need to do your research and find a company that provides you the sweet balance between cost and experience.

Porosity

As mentioned in the introduction, both marble and granite are porous, meaning that water penetrates the inner layers, putting the countertops at staining risk. While this is the case, marble is more porous, so you need to seal it more often to prevent it from staining.

Despite the high porosity, marble is still compact and sturdy, so it makes a great choice when you are looking to install durable and elegant kitchen countertops.

The marble’s high porosity makes it an ideal candidate for installation in hotter climates due to its ability to repel heat.

Although granite is less porous, you should note that it’s still porous, so you should protect it from oils, wine, condiments, and other materials that can stain the surface.

Aesthetics

For the untrained eye, both marble and granite look the same, but they have several distinct physical attributes that you can pick when you are cautious.

For example, granite has a veiny look that resembles specks on the surface and differs in color, where the different slabs have a variety of hues. Marble, too, has a veiny pattern, but the veins are larger and run through the slab with fairly consistent colors.

Durability and maintenance

For the countertops to last for a long time, you need to ensure they are properly installed by experienced granite installers Rockville or other professionals. Since marble is more porous, it’s more susceptible to stains and spills, so you will need to clean it up and seal it more often.

Granite is less porous, but you will still need to seal it at least once a year to improve its ability to resist stains and spills.

06

Feb

Granite Installation Process: Steps To Follow When Installing Granite Countertops

Granite countertops come with plenty of perks. They transform your kitchen, they are durable, among many other things. If you want to install the countertops in your home, there are two ways you can go about it: hire granite installers or do it yourself.

If you are a dab hand at DIY projects, you can do the work yourself and by so doing you save money and install the countertops in your preferred manner. Is this your first time installing the countertops? Here is the granite installation process you should follow:

Get the right measurements

Begin with determining the size and shape of granite you need to complete your project. A great way to do it is to use craft paper or cardboard to create a template that you will visit the granite stores with.

Trace around the existing countertops and cut away any excess material to make an exact template. When doing it, mark any spots where you will need cuts such as the sink.

Don’t be in a hurry when taking the measurements. Take your time to ensure you get precise measurements.

After knowing the size of the granite you need, the next thing is to determine the size of the overhang you want for your countertops. An ideal granite overhang should be 1.5 inches. Avoid an overhang larger than this, as it will require you to install steel braces to support it.

The braces are complex to install and will eat up on your budget.

After taking the measurements, adjust your template to include the additional measurements of the kitchen overhang.

With the measurements in place, now head to the stores and choose the granite you want for your home. Granite is natural, so it comes in different colors and designs. It’s up to you to choose the right one for your home.

When making the purchase, avoid buying from the big box stores as they sell their products at inflated prices and often don’t have a wide selection of slabs to choose from.

Before you make the commitment to buy large slabs, first take a piece of the slab with you at home and see how it blends with the rest of the house. Only buy a larger slab if you like how the slab looks in your house.

Prepare the surfaces for installation

Now that you have your desired slab, now it’s time to install it on your surfaces. Unfortunately, you can’t install it on dirty surfaces so the first thing to do is to clean your countertops so they are free of grease, oil, dirt, and other materials.

If you had installed countertops before, remove them so you have a clean surface to work with.

Once the countertops are clean, put down plywood for the granite counters to rest on. For best results, ensure the plywood has the same measurements as the template.

Attach the plywood to the countertop cabinets and secure them with screws. Also, waterproof the plywood to keep it from swelling when it comes into contact with water.

Lay the granite slab

Lay the granite slab in place. In most cases, you will need one slab, but if your kitchen is large, you may need to lay several pieces. If this is the case, epoxy the seams to cement the pieces together. You should then use a razor blade to skim off any excess epoxy that might be left behind.

You should then secure the granite slab to the cabinets using bond block attachments. This is to keep the granite from moving around or shifting during normal usage.

If you have a special cooktop or sinkhole, you may need to make additional cuts. Use a wet saw to accomplish this.

Install the sink and cooktop

After making the cuts, install the sink and cooktop. Place the sink in the cut and ensure it fits properly. To secure it in place, use a bead of caulk around the sink edge where the sink rests on the granite.

It’s also wise to apply a bead caulk around the underside of the sink.

Finish the countertop

To complete the look, remove any caulk, dust, or epoxy on the countertops. You also should clean the counters and seal them.

The duration of the granite installation process depends on the size and complexity of the job. For a small project, it can take you 2-3 hours, but larger and more complex projects can last for up to 7 hours.

You save money and have an easy time customizing the countertops to your liking when you install the countertops by yourself, but if you find it complex or you don’t have the skills, let a granite contractor Rockville help you out.

07

Jan

Why Is Quartz So Expensive?

If you have been in the countertops market, you must have noticed that quartz kitchen countertops don’t come cheap. Why is quartz so expensive? You must be wondering.

Well, there are plenty of reasons for the high cost. These reasons include:

High demand

Unlike granite and marble, quartz doesn’t require sealing. This feature has made quartz highly popular among homeowners and like any other popular item, there is a high demand for the stone.

The laws of demand and supply dictate that the higher the demand, the higher the price hence the high price of the stone.

Quality

Although the quality of the stone varies from one manufacturer to the other, quartz countertops are generally high quality where the stone is strong, consistently colored, and gives off lower levels of dangerous VOCs.

Since many homeowners know that quartz is a high-quality stone, they rush to buy it hence driving the price up.

As mentioned, the quality of the stone varies among manufacturers, so there is the risk of buying a stone and finding it inferior quality.

To avoid this, take your time when buying. Visit different stores in the company of a countertop professional and scrutinize the stone before making the purchase.

Quartz is highly versatile

Quartz comes in a wide range of colors, styles, finishes, and edge treatments. When it comes to thickness, the stone runs from 3/8” to 11/4”. Obviously, the thicker the countertop, the more expensive it will be.

Due to the versatility of the stone, it’s up to you to research and find one that will be ideal for your application. If not sure of the one that will look the best, get the input of a professional.

Quartz is easy to customize

Although, most homeowners want countertops that look like their friends’ or neighbours’, you can easily customize quartz if looking for that unusual countertop shape or width.

Quartz also allows you to create custom cutouts to accommodate your appliances. You can also create a bar sink and other special features with quartz.

High trade tariffs

Since quartz is manufactured overseas, the government has imposed heavy trade tariffs that have driven up the cost. For example, quartz manufactured in China, which is traditionally on the lower price end, has increased by over 300%.

Quartz is complex to install

Quartz lacks porosity, is dense, and heavy to lift. Before installing the slab, you have to level the cabinetry and vanities. You also have to securely support any sections not positioned on top of cabinets such as the breakfast bar.

To have the classic seamless look, you have to unobtrusively match the seams.

All of these make quartz installation a challenging project that can only be handled by a qualified and equipped contractor that doesn’t come at a low price which further increases the quartz cost.

Is there hope with all the high prices?

Despite the high cost, you can still install quartz in your kitchen. You only need to consider several tips that include:

Take your time

As mentioned above, the key to finding a high-quality stone is to take your time and shop around. Before you make the purchase, visit different stores and see what they have to offer.

As a rule of thumb, avoid the big box stores as they not only have fewer options, but they also tend to be expensive. The best places to buy countertops is from the small stores.

You will find plenty of quartz options, pay less for them and establish meaningful relationships with the contractors that will go a long way towards keeping your countertops in top shape.

Be flexible

It’s not uncommon to find a beautiful quartz design and color only for it to be way out of your means. If this is you, it doesn’t mean your dream of owning quartz countertops is gone.

You only need to be flexible. If you can’t afford a given design or color, simply pivot and go for a design that is within your budget.

Minimize the number of slabs

When designing your kitchen or bathroom, work with your contractor and come up with a design that requires one slab instead of two. For a small project such as a bathroom vanity, visit your quartz countertops dealer Potomac and get a remnant instead of an entire slab.

28

Dec

Can You Remove Granite Countertops and Reuse Them?

Imagine this. You have spent thousands of dollars renovating your house with premium granite counters then due to unforeseen circumstances, you have to move out of the house or sell it.

You can’t imagine moving to the new house without the seamless design, durability, ease of maintenance, and color patterns of granite.

Can you remove granite countertops and reuse them? You wonder. The simple answer is it’s most likely impossible as there are plenty of hurdles you have to go over for it to be a success. These hurdles include:

You have to match the kitchen space layout

Since you had already cut the slabs during installation, the only way you can use them in your new home is if they fit the footprint of your new kitchen cabinetry.

This means if in the old layout the granite had cutout around the wet bar area or around the sink area, for you to reuse your countertops in the new kitchen you should have the exact layout, which as you can guess is highly improbable.

Even if by miracle the old and new kitchen layouts match, you have problems if the new kitchen is larger than the old one.

In such a scenario you have to find matching granite pieces which can be difficult if the granite pattern and color is unique.

Even if you manage to get the piece, you will have a visible seam where you attach the additional slab. As you can guess this can significantly affect the look you are trying to achieve.

So to conclude, for you to successfully remove and reuse your kitchen countertop, the two houses should have similar cabinet layouts. The length and width of the countertop should fit the cabinet dimensions.

If you have excess granite, your contractor can trim it down, but if the granite is not enough, you have plenty of issues to solve.

High granite damage risk

Most homeowners install granite for its tough and indestructible nature, but you should know that granite is heavy and brittle.

This means it’s almost impossible to remove the countertops in one large slab as the risk of damage is high.

For you to safely remove the countertop, hire a professional to come with special tools, which as you might guess isn’t cheap.

You also have to involve several people to hold along the countertop’s length to avoid pressure points that might lead to cracking.

Even when you hire experienced contractors, most of them will require you to sign a contract that frees them from liability should the granite crack during removal. This is due to the high risk of damage that comes with removing the stone.

Before you decide to remove the granite, find out the type of granite you have. Granite can be weaker and fragile or it can be harder and stronger. Obviously, you should go for one that is harder and stronger as it will be easier to handle and move without risking a lot of damage.

You also should consider the thickness of the granite counter. It’s better to remove a thicker slab than a thinner one. To tell how thin your countertop is, check it from beneath the cabinet.

If there is plywood below the granite, then the countertop is thin and has high chances of cracking but if there is no plywood, the stone is thick and there are chances of removing it with no issues.

Work with an expert contractor

There are plenty of perks that come with removing and reusing granite counters. One is you don’t leave behind your precious countertops you spent a lot of money on.

Secondly, you don’t have to break the bank to purchase new countertops in your new home.

While this is great, as discussed above, it comes with plenty of challenges you have to be strategic when approaching them. To increase the chances of the process being successful, work with experienced granite contractors Rockville.

The contractors should have removed and reused other countertops in the past. When you hire the right ones, they will help you decide whether it’s wise to remove the countertops or not.

The contractors will also remove and reinstall the countertops if the stone is healthy enough for reuse.